[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 75 (Tuesday, May 20, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H4272-H4273]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 ENHANCING COOPERATION AND SHARING OF RESOURCES BETWEEN DEPARTMENT OF 
               VETERANS AFFAIRS AND DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1911) to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance 
cooperation and the sharing of resources between the Department of 
Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1911

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE-DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
                   AFFAIRS JOINT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

       (a) Establishment of Joint Committee.--(1) Chapter 3 of 
     title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
     the following new section:

     ``Sec. 320. Department of Veterans Affairs-Department of 
       Defense Joint Executive Committee

       ``(a) Joint Executive Committee.--(1) There is established 
     an interagency committee to be known as the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs-Department of Defense Joint Executive 
     Committee (hereinafter in this section referred to as the 
     `Committee').
       ``(2) The Committee is composed of--
       ``(A) the Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs and such 
     other officers and employees of the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may designate; 
     and
       ``(B) the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and 
     Readiness and such other officers and employees of the 
     Department of Defense as the Secretary of Defense may 
     designate.
       ``(b) Administrative Matters.--(1) The Deputy Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs and the Under Secretary of Defense shall 
     determine the size and structure of the Committee, as well as 
     the administrative and procedural guidelines for the 
     operation of the Committee.
       ``(2) The two Departments shall supply appropriate staff 
     and resources to provide administrative support and services. 
     Support for such purposes shall be provided at a level 
     sufficient for the efficient operation of the Committee, 
     including a subordinate Health Executive Committee, a 
     subordinate Benefits Executive Committee, and such other 
     committees or working groups as considered necessary by the 
     Deputy Secretary and Under Secretary.
       ``(c) Recommendations.--(1) The Committee shall recommend 
     to the Secretaries strategic direction for the joint 
     coordination and sharing efforts between and within the two 
     Departments under section 8111 of this title and shall 
     oversee implementation of those efforts.
       ``(2) The Committee shall submit to the two Secretaries and 
     to Congress an annual report containing such recommendations 
     as the Committee considers appropriate.
       ``(d) Functions.--In order to enable the Committee to make 
     recommendations in its annual report under subsection (c)(2), 
     the Committee shall do the following:
       ``(1) Review existing policies, procedures, and practices 
     relating to the coordination and sharing of resources between 
     the two Departments.
       ``(2) Identify changes in policies, procedures, and 
     practices that, in the judgment of the Committee, would 
     promote mutually beneficial coordination, use, or exchange of 
     use of services and resources of the two Departments, with 
     the goal of improving the quality, efficiency and 
     effectiveness of the delivery of benefits and services to 
     veterans, service members, military retirees and their 
     families through an enhanced Department of Veterans Affairs 
     and Department of Defense partnership.
       ``(3) Identify and assess further opportunities for the 
     coordination and collaboration between the Departments that, 
     in the judgment of the Committee, would not adversely affect 
     the range of services, the quality of care, or the 
     established priorities for benefits provided by either 
     Department.
       ``(4) Review the plans of both Departments for the 
     acquisition of additional resources, especially new 
     facilities and major equipment and technology, in order to 
     assess the potential effect of such plans on further 
     opportunities for the coordination and sharing of resources.
       ``(5) Review the implementation of activities designed to 
     promote the coordination and sharing of resources between the 
     Departments.''.
       (2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter 
     is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

``320. Department of Veterans Affairs-Department of Defense Joint 
              Executive Committee.''.

       (b) Conforming Amendments.--(1) Subsection (c) of section 
     8111 of such title is repealed.
       (2) Such section is further amended--
       (A) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ``subsection (c)'' 
     and inserting ``section 320 of this title'';
       (B) in subsection (d)(1), by striking ``Committee 
     established in subsection (c)'' and inserting ``Department of 
     Veterans Affairs-Department of Defense Joint Executive 
     Committee'';
       (C) in subsection (e)(1), by striking ``Committee under 
     subsection (c)(2)'' and inserting ``Department of Veterans 
     Affairs-Department of Defense Joint Executive Committee with 
     respect to health care resources''; and
       (D) in subsection (f)(2), by striking subparagraphs (B) and 
     (C) and inserting the following:
       ``(B) The assessment of further opportunities identified by 
     the Department of Veterans Affairs-Department of Defense 
     Joint Executive Committee under subsection (d)(3) of section 
     320 of this title for the sharing of health-care resources 
     between the two Departments.
       ``(C) Any recommendation made by that committee under 
     subsection (c)(2) of that section during that fiscal year.''.
       (c) Technical Amendments.--Subsection (f) of such section 
     is further amended by inserting ``(Public Law 107-314)'' in 
     paragraphs (3), (4)(A), (4)(B), and (5) after ``for Fiscal 
     Year 2003''.
       (d) Effective Date.--(1) If this Act is enacted before 
     October 1, 2003--
       (A) section 320 of title 38, United States Code, as added 
     by subsection (a), shall take effect on October 1, 2003; and
       (B) the amendments made by subsections (b) and (c) shall 
     take effect on October 1, 2003, immediately after the 
     amendment made by section 721(a)(1) of the Bob Stump National 
     Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 (Public Law 
     107-314; 116 2589).
       (2) If this Act is enacted on or after October 1, 2003, the 
     amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date 
     of the enactment of this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arkansas (Mr. Boozman), and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman).
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. BOOZMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, for many years, the Departments of Veterans 
Affairs and Defense have been obligated by law to share health care 
resources. Congress enacted the original sharing law, Public Law 19-
174, in 1982. Through a series of hearings and business meetings, our 
committee found that the law was being unevenly implemented and that 
much more could be done.
  Congress recently reemphasized its commitment to this policy when it 
passed sections 721 to 726 of the Bob Stump National Defense 
Authorization Act for fiscal year 2003. Although our committee found 
evidence that sharing is working very well in some locations, the two 
Departments have never made a strong commitment to sharing and planning 
future health care activities. There are many reasons that the two 
Departments have not shared as much as they could, but we have found in 
general that there was a lack of committed leadership to implementing 
the goals of sharing.
  The original sharing legislation established a VA-DOD committee to 
review policies and practices related to sharing of health resources. 
This committee was charged with identifying new or potential 
opportunities and making recommendations to VA, DOD and Congress. Our 
oversight activities revealed the joint committee had not achieved its 
full potential, and we made a number of changes to the committee's 
charge last year.
  The significance of H.R. 1911 is that it would expand the purposes 
for which the original joint committee was

[[Page H4273]]

formed. It is not just health care where coordination and sharing is 
needed. There is a substantial amount of information that DOD maintains 
that is essential for the administration of various benefits, programs 
such as the Montgomery GI bill and disability compensation. Clearly, 
the government can be more responsive to future veterans and claims for 
benefits they earned if the two Departments can exchange information 
accurately and quickly.
  H.R. 1911 would also increase flexibility for the joint committee to 
make recommendations in mutual interest areas. The committee would also 
be permitted to assess policy changes in both Departments in order to 
advance services and opportunities for the future. As a result, a more 
efficient system of delivery of health care and benefits to VA and DOD 
beneficiaries should evolve.
  This is a goal I know both VA and DOD share, to provide continuity of 
care, prompt access to earned benefits, and better service to our 
current and former service members.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I stand today in support of H.R. 1911, which would 
elevate an advisory committee created in last year's defense 
authorization. H.R. 1911 would elevate the charter of the joint 
executive committee established between the Department of Defense and 
the VA to review activities Departmentwide, rather than simply limiting 
its charter to health care.
  We are pleased that the Department has asked for this authority. I 
appreciate the leadership of the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) 
on the bill we are going to consider today, and I thank the chairman of 
the Subcommittee on Health, the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. 
Simmons), and their ranking member, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Rodriguez).
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Kirk).
  Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the committee for bringing 
this needed legislation to the floor. I also thank the Deputy Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs, Dr. Leo McKay, and David Chu of the Department of 
Defense for their leadership on this.
  We have several key projects that put together DOD and VA health 
care: at Kirtland, in Las Vegas, and in my own congressional district 
of North Chicago. These projects help us realize fundamental facts: 15 
million Americans have served our country in uniform, with 25 million 
of them still alive today and in need of VA care. But in many parts of 
this country, combining DOD and VA projects can help improve the care 
both of veterans and active duty personnel alike.
  In my district, the North Chicago VA Medical Center and the Great 
Lakes Naval Hospital are combining. During the last administration, 
there were two attempts to close the North Chicago VA Hospital, but on 
June 19, 2001, VA released a capital asset realignment enhanced 
services study. That study pointed the way towards combining these two 
institutions, offering better health care for the veterans of northern 
Illinois.
  I want to applaud the committee for bringing this legislation forward 
which codifies the existing agreements between DOD and VA and also 
enhances their ability to work in other places. Later on in this week, 
we will have the opportunity to increase the authorized level of 
spending that the DOD spends on its cooperative programs with the VA. I 
hope the House not only adopts this legislation overwhelmingly but that 
amendment as well. Our veterans and our active duty would both benefit 
from that.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time, and 
I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1911.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 
1911, a bill to amend Title 38 of the United States Code, to enhance 
cooperation and the sharing of resources between the Department of 
Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense. I support this bill 
because I support the men and women of our military whether they are 
currently enlisted or veterans.
  H.R. 1911 establishes an interagency committee to be called the 
Department of Veterans Affairs-Department of Defense Joint Executive 
Committee. The Joint Executive Committee will operate with the goal of 
``improving the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of the delivery 
of benefits and services to veterans, service members, military 
retirees and their families through an enhanced Department of Veterans 
Affairs and Department of Defense partnership.''
  Both the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense 
provide valuable services to help our service men and women. The 
Department of Veterans Affairs administers the laws the provide 
benefits and other services to veterans and their families. The 
Department of Veterans Affairs is responsible for insuring our veterans 
receive the medical care, benefits, social support, and memorials they 
so rightfully deserve after their valiant service to our America. The 
Department of Defense coordinate the activities of our activities of 
our armed services branches and ensures the professional and safe 
operations of our currently enlisted soldiers.
  America's heroes are America's soldiers. The remarkable talent, 
bravery, and sacrifice of our military personnel was illustrated in the 
recent War in Iraq. We celebrated the safe return of our military 
personnel and we will revere them as veterans.
  I support H.R. 1911 because the cooperative efforts of the 
Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense to improve the quality of 
life for our soldiers and veterans. For example, Veterans Affairs and 
the Department of Defense are presently collaborating in the Defense 
Department's Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office to account for 
our missing-in-action from all of America's wars, and to provide case-
specific information to their next-of-kin.
  H.R. 1911, and the collaboration between the Department of Veterans 
Affairs and the Department of Defense, will establish better health 
services, benefits, and other programs for our soldiers and veterans. I 
support this bill because I support our soldiers and our veterans. They 
are our heroes.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1911.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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